Do ‘weekend warriors’ reap the full benefit of exercise?

Is only working out on weekends the same as working out during the week? Can you cram 5 days into 2 and meet your fitness goals?

(CNN)

It has become a habit. Each week, the weekdays fly by so quickly that you find time to exercise only on Saturdays and Sundays.
 
If you’re feeling guilty about your “weekend warrior” exercise schedule, stop.
 
Even though it’s not ideal, packing the recommended amount of weekly exercise into just one or two workout sessions may lower your risk of death similar to what regular exercise offers, according to a study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine on Monday.
 
Overall, the World Health Organization recommends that adults get at least 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, or 150 minutes of moderate exercise, each week.
 
The weekend warriors in the new study undertook mostly high-intensity exercise, said Gary O’Donovan, a research associate in physical activity, sedentary behavior and health at Loughborough University in England, who led the new study.
 
“Quality may be more important than quantity,” he said.